Produce Container

ABSTRACT

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a produce container which includes a receptacle and a lid. The receptacle has a base and a wall defining a mouth. The base includes a first engaging portion and a lid adapted to close off the mouth. The lid has a top having a second engaging portion adapted to cooperate with the first engaging portion of another identical produce container so as to facilitate interlocking of the container with the other identical container.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C. §119

The present Application for Patent claims priority to AustralianProvisional Application No. 2013903953, filed Oct. 14, 2013, andassigned to the assignee hereof and hereby expressly incorporated byreference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to packaging containers. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a produce container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is a need for produce growers and traders to use producecontainers, also known as punnets, to transport fresh produce from farmsto distributors or wholesalers who would then on-sell the produce toretailers for selling to the general public. Typically, the produce ispacked in a large number of containers arranged in stacks which arefitted into a big plastic tray for transportation.

It is generally desired in the produce packaging industry to provide acontainer which allows the produce to be aerated before consumption inorder to prevent the following from happening:

-   -   (i) a reduction in the density of the produce;    -   (ii) a change in the texture and rheology of the produce which        may lead to different mouthfeel and appearance;    -   (iii) a reduction in shelf-life due to oxidation reactions; and    -   (iv) a decrease in the intensity of flavors.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a produce containerwhich may satisfy the abovementioned desire, or which will at leastprovide a useful alternative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided aproduce container including:

-   -   a receptacle with a base and a wall defining a mouth, the base        including a first engaging portion; and    -   a lid adapted to close off the mouth, the lid with a top having        a second engaging portion adapted to cooperate with the first        engaging portion of another identical produce container so as to        facilitate interlocking of the container with the other        identical container.

In one embodiment, the base includes one or more apertures. Preferably,each of the one or more apertures is located near a corner of theproduce container.

Preferably, the top of the lid includes one or more additionalapertures. More preferably, the one or more additional apertures areeach located near of a corner of the produce container.

It is preferred that when the container is stacked on top of anotheridentical container, each aperture is in communication with theadditional aperture. As such, the produce contained in both containersmay be aerated.

Preferably, the first engaging portion includes legs, each curving in afirst direction away from the centre of the base with a first center ofcurvature on the plane that the base is on. More preferably, thecurvature of each leg conforms to the curved edge of a correspondingrecessed corner.

More preferably, each leg also curves in a second direction away fromthe base with a second centre of curvature below the base. As such, eachleg includes an arch providing a gap between an underside of the leg andthe top of the lid. Extra aeration of the produce contained in bothcontainers is enabled as a result.

The second engaging portion preferably takes the form of an elevatedplatform with recessed corners. Each recess corner is preferred to havea curved edge. Preferably, the or each aperture is located at or nearone of the recessed corners.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention may be better understood from thefollowing non-limiting description of an embodiment, in which:

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a produce container having alid and a receptacle in an open state in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an internal perspective view of the produce container of FIG.1 with the lid and receptacle in a closed state;

FIG. 3 is a plan view from above of the lid of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view from bottom of the receptacle of the container ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the container of FIG. 1 with the lid andreceptacle in a closed state;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of multiple containers of FIG. 1 in a stack;and

FIG. 7 is a magnified view illustrating the portion labelled Y as shownin FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a produce container 10 is shown consistingof a receptacle 12 and a lid 14. The receptacle 12 has a base 16 and awall 18 defining a mouth 20.

The lid 14 includes a top 40 with a (second) engaging portion which isin the form of an elevated platform 22 with recessed corners 24, 26, 28& 30. Each recess corner 24, 26, 28 or 30 has a curved edge 32, 34, 36 &38.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the lid 14 is provided to close off themouth 20 of the receptacle 12. The base 16 has a (first) engagingportion which is in the form of legs designed to engage and cooperatewith the respective recessed corners 24A, 26A, 28A & 30A of the elevatedplatform 22A of another identical produce container 10A (see FIG. 6) soas to facilitate interlocking of the container 10 with the otheridentical container 10A.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, each of the legs 50, 52, 54 & 56 of thebase 12 curves in a first direction (as shown by arrows 60) away fromthe centre 58 of the base 16 with a centre of curvature (not shown) onthe plane that the base 16 is on. The curvature 62 of each leg 50, 52,54 & 56 conforms to the curved edge, for example 38, of a correspondingrecessed corner 30, for example.

As best shown in FIG. 4, each leg 50, 52, 54 & 56 also curves in anotherdirection (as indicated by arrows 64, see FIG. 5) away from the base 16with another centre of curvature (not shown) below the base 16. Itshould be noted that the curves may not be in the shape of a perfect arcbut just an asymmetrical bend as shown in the embodiment shown in FIG.4. As such, each leg 50, 52, 54, 56 includes an arch 66, 68 for example,providing a gap 68 between an underside of the leg 50, for example, andthe top 40 of the lid 14, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. Extraaeration of the produce contained in both containers 10 & 10A is enabledas a result.

As best shown in FIG. 4, the base 16 has four apertures 70, 72, 74 & 76.Each of the apertures 70, 72, 74 & 76 is located near a corner 78, forexample, of the receptacle 12.

Turning to FIG. 3, the top 40 of the lid 14 has four apertures in theform of round holes 80, 82, 84 & 86. More preferably, each of theseholes 80, 82, 84 & 86 is located near of a recessed corner 24 forexample.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the container 10 is stacked on top of theother identical container 10A which in turn is stacked on top of yetanother virtual container 10B shown in broken lines. As mentioned above,the legs 50, 52, 54 & 56 of are engaged with the respective curved edges32, 34, 36 & 38 of the recesses corners of the receptacle 12. Eachaperture 70, 72, 74, 76 is in communication with a corresponding hole84, 82, 80 & 86. As such, air circulation following paths 88 & 90 forexample, is enabled thereby allowing the produce contained in bothcontainers 10 & 10A (and 10B) to be aerated. Additionally, as best shownin FIG. 7, each of the gaps, 68 for example, between the underside ofthe leg 50, for example, and the top 40 of the lid 14 permits extrapaths 100 for ventilation ensuring that the contained produce getsadequate aeration while in storage and during transportation.

Now that various embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed in some detail, it will be apparent to a skilled person in theart that a produce container in accordance with those embodiments mayoffer at least the following advantages:

-   -   1. it enables interlocking among stacked containers in a stable        manner; and    -   2. it enables adequate aeration of produce boxed up in        containers while in storage and during transportation thereby        prolonging the shelf-live of the produce and preventing the        produce from taste and appearance deterioration.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments describedherein are susceptible to variations and modifications other than thosespecifically described. All such variations and modifications are to beconsidered within the scope and spirit of the present invention thenature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description.

1. A produce container including: a receptacle with a base and a walldefining a mouth, the base including a first engaging portion; and a lidadapted to close off the mouth, the lid with a top having a secondengaging portion adapted to cooperate with the first engaging portion ofanother identical produce container so as to facilitate interlocking ofthe container with the other identical container.
 2. The producecontainer of claim 1, wherein the base includes one or more apertures.3. The produce container of claim 2, wherein the one or more aperturesare located near one or more corners of the produce container.
 4. Theproduce container of claim 1, wherein the top of the lid includes one ormore additional apertures.
 5. The produce container of claim 4, whereinthe one or more additional apertures are located near one or morecorners of the produce container.
 6. The produce container of claim 4,wherein when the container is stacked on top of another identicalcontainer, each aperture is in communication with the additionalaperture.
 7. The produce container of claim 1, wherein the firstengaging portion includes legs, each leg curving in a first directionaway from the center of the base with a first center of curvature on theplane that the base is on.
 8. The produce container of claim 7, whereinthe curvature of each leg conforms to the curved edge of a correspondingrecessed corner.
 9. The produce container of claim 7, wherein each legalso curves in a second direction away from the base with a secondcentre of curvature below the base.
 10. The produce container of claim7, wherein each leg includes an arch providing a gap between anunderside of the leg and the top of the lid.
 11. The produce containerof claim 1, wherein the second engaging portion takes the form of anelevated platform with recessed corners.
 12. The produce container ofclaim 11, wherein each recessed corner includes a curved edge.
 13. Theproduce container of claim 11, wherein one or more apertures are locatedat or near one of the recessed corners.